Dugout Discussion

Wednesday Dugout Discussion

Gameweek 23 comes to a conclusion with tonight’s encounter at the Emirates as Arsenal and West Ham play out their postponed Christmas fixture with flakes of snow in the air. With Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla sporting the armband for many, there’s plenty of interest in tonight’s events and our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to capture all the emotion and point scoring as the match is played out.

The team news from the Emirates finds Arsene Wenger restoring Lukas Podolski to his starting lineup after the German missed the defeat at Stamford Bridge through illness. Aaron Ramsey also comes in as both Francis Coquelin and Abou Diaby make way. Olivier Giroud keeps his start up front then, with Walcott likely to be patrolling the right flank and Santi Cazorla back in a central role. As for West Ham, they also make changes with Carlton Cole, Matt Taylor, Jack Collison and Ricardo Vaz Te all earning starts: Joe Cole, Matt Jarvis and Mo Diame drop to the bench, Marouane Chamakh is ineligible against his parent club.

There’s also a Capital One Cup semi-final taking place at the Liberty of course, with Chelsea chasing a deficit against Swansea. The main news from the teamsheets here is that Demba Ba is back in the starting lineup with Fernando Torres benched. Also amongst the subs are John Terry and David Luiz – the Brazilian makes a return after missing the win over Arsenal with an ankle knock.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

2,471 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Onana Whatsmyname
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Back to Back 100's......for those very vocal posters who doubted the importance of DGW players and dillegently saved their WC.....well done and good luck making up the 80 points you lost.

    Chelsea will flop.....Arsernal have been terrible.....blah blah

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    1. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Classy.

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      1. 4vets
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        No... just glib.

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    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Got 85 and 90 and still have 2 WC's πŸ™‚

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      1. Onana Whatsmyname
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Fair play you are very well set in that case!!!

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    3. alsybach
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      gloating is a wonderful trait..........

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      1. Onana Whatsmyname
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Yawn.

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  2. Jimbo123
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Finished 5-1. I need a drink.....

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  3. afcblegend
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    What the funk? What was the ballboy doing, lying on the ball trying to waste time or something?! πŸ˜†

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  4. Nice2Michu
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    I think the ball boy knew that these kind of HAZARDs happen in the job, it could happen twice or just JUAN time so it doent MATA. Chelsea were always going to LUIZ. The ballboy should CECH the job requirements before he applies. He deserves an OSCAR for that reaction. But all in all hazard is a BAd man for doing that. πŸ˜€

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    1. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Bored?

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    2. MJ6987
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      :-).

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    3. flinch
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Da dum tssss

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    4. Kanus hat trick
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Terry-ble!

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    5. El Asesino Pacheco
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      πŸ˜€

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  5. Lawrø
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Here's the ballboy after the incident: https://twitter.com/canzo27/status/294197169601265664/photo/1

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    1. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Brilliant. πŸ™‚

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  6. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Potts injury not looking good at all πŸ™

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    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      You in the ambulance ?

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      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Don't be an idiot. Unconscious on the way to the hospital.

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    2. ccc
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      woke up in the ambulance

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  7. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    If Arsene did not sub Giroud, he would have scored that hat-trick. Bloody hell. And Arsenal utilised him today. His hold up play and his one touch passing was very good. A lot of good through balls that opened Arsenal up. A lot of them. If only Arsenal decided to put a cross in, they would utilize his full potential.

    He isn't great, but he certainly is NOT a donkey.

    Thank you.

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    1. Acquafresca
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Good Punt. πŸ˜‰

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      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Good player.

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    2. Stern John Terry Wilson Pal…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      I agree with that middle paragraph. Not a superstar, but can be a good player for Arsenal if utilized correctly.

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    3. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Couldn't have said it better

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  8. hnmfm
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    What's the average gonna be? got 92 points, how did everyone else do?

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    1. NiceToMichu
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      86

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    2. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      91-4

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    3. LMNO
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      94

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    4. Spencer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      88 for me

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    5. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      FPL average 55-60, FFS average 80-85, I reckon.

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    6. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      95

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    7. ccc
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      78 πŸ™ lowest I have seen here

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      1. alsybach
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        only the big scorers are going to post though...............

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    8. Neto
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      83

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  9. DiMatteoBandwagon
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Real life not Fantasy, I think Demel looks pretty good - he beats players, keeps possession under pressure, hes strong, kind of Dembele-like

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      I thought Demel looked pretty good when his mistakes were helping my Podolski and Walcott(c) to a load of points.

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    2. Nice to Michu
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      you mean Diame?

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      1. DiMatteoBandwagon
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        hahahahaha ^this and ill shut up

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        1. Mílanista
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          πŸ˜€ That makes a lot more sense

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  10. Stern John Terry Wilson Pal…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    If, as widely predicted on here, Podolski gets 2 baps and Walcott 1, I'll be left on 99, 1 short of a first ever century.

    Any chance The Bap Chap could put my mind at rest...?

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    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Pod, Giroud, Walcott

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      1. Stern John Terry Wilson Pal…
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        You reckon? That's good of ya πŸ˜‰

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  11. Tobiathan
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    "I have a lot of good moments but the one I prefer is when I kicked the ball boy"

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    1. Barnsley FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      +42

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  12. GYM JUNKIE
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    They said Hazard could become anything.. so he became the new Cantona.

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  13. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    oh the tabloid furore tomorrow, hazards about to taste a british media lynching

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  14. Gargamel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    That should have been 10-1. Missed opportunity to make massive ground for us who loaded up on Arsenal players.

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  15. Fantasy Football Friend!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Reading his twitter, it would appear the ballboy is 17, LMFAO

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    1. Yes Don
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      what happened to the ball boy?

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  16. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Think average will be about 67

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    1. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Waaaay lower

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      1. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Have to take into account many favoured captain choices all scored, like Theo, Pod, Giroud and Santi. Many will have loaded up on all these players for DGW.

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    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Only 4-500,000 still playing I reckon could be lower, about 55-56 I guess

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      1. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah might be slightly lower. Still think it'll be over 60 though. 61 to 62 maybe.

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  17. Locarno
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Average of 57, I reckon.

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    1. Acquafresca
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Would be lovely. Might hit 100 again!!

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    2. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      50-52

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      1. Locarno
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        😯 It's 43 already, before a 5-1 and all the auto subs. Luiz's replacements alone will increase it.

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  18. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    just woke up (6.00 am here in SEA) and found out that Walcott (c) & POd have given me 34 & 15 points respectively. what a way to start the day.

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    1. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      i'm off to sleep
      2 am here

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  19. Kanus hat trick
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    That ballboy = reintroduce the cane!!

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  20. Acquafresca
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    FEDERER!!!!!!!! BOOM!

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Murray wins.

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    2. Kanus hat trick
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Hope he wins it, Murray's draw has been a joke!

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  21. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    On an even 100. Don't even want a BP for Walcott.

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    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      100 here. why not a BP for Wally?

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      1. Feanor
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        I mean I'd take it, but 100 just looks nice.

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  22. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    hopefully not many in the top 1200 have cazorla and thats the difference of me cracking the top 1000 for 1st time

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Nah, they all have Pod

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      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        hopefully not πŸ˜•

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    2. 4vets
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Do it! All the best Octopus!

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      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        cheers bud

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        1. 4vets
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          ... but I'm on the red πŸ˜‰

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  23. AGUEROOOOO!!!!!
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    demel wcarders ship him out seems he had a mare wont be in line up for too long

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  24. ccc
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Sitting on 78 points. I was hearing a lot of talk about 100+. I just hope to get back into the top 100k again πŸ™

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  25. Lao Tzu
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    The hysteria over the Hazard incident is lamentable.

    1) Hazard didn't kick him, he kicked the ball out from underneath him
    2) The ball "boy" is not a boy of 7 or 8 years old - he is a young man who needs to learn his actions have consequences.

    The ball boy should have been sent away from the field of play not Hazard. Sadly, the boy will be made out to be an innocent victim.

    By the way, I am not a Chelsea fan, quite the opposite.

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    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      You are NEVER getting a job at The Sun πŸ™‚

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    2. mobbonkhouse
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Professional footballers shouldn't be kicking out at ball boys, regardless of their age.

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      1. Lao Tzu
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        He kicked the ball out from underneath him.

        To call that "kicking out at ball boys" is utter nonsense.

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    3. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Can't argue, but the fact is Hazard should know better and was wrong

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      1. alsybach
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        bullshit the ballboy deserved a good kicking the little twat

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  26. Frank Black
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Who's selling Gibbs??? should i replace him with Azpilicueta??

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    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Why? Gibbs nailed on with a great run of fixtures!

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      1. Frank Black
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Because he's been useless in the last 4-5 matches. Next fixture is against Liverpool.

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    2. ccc
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Azpil is too much of a rotation risk with Terry's return which could see Ivan pushed back to RB

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  27. tw
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Game over yet?

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  28. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    The game has gotten way too soft, I'm afraid....

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  29. Mull
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    How many points did you get TODAY?

    I got 20.

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      29 + baps

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    2. Stern John Terry Wilson Pal…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      40

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  30. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    if only arse could keep a cleanie

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    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      They've kept more than 14 other teams in the league this season?

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        i meant since ive had gibbs....

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    2. Kanus hat trick
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Toilet paper?

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